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SECOND EDITI ON-FIFTH THOUSAND. 

THE 

THRILLING NAERATIVE 

OF 

EDGELL, PEARSON, GATWOOD AND SAVAGE, 

WHO WERE RESCUED, AFTER HAVING BEEN 

BUEIED ALIVE 

SEVEN ETOD.EED FEET UNDER GROUND, 
FOE FOURTEEN DAYS AND THIRTEEN HOURS 

IN THE 

BLUE BOCK COAL MINES: 
1 

i 

BY ROBERT U GILT MORE. 



ZANESVILLE, OHIO: 
QILLMORE& BENNETT, POINTERS 

1856. 



[fflSST EDITION OS 1 2000 SOLD IN TWO DAYS.] 



THE 

THRILLING NARRATIVE 

OP 

E06EIL, PEARSON, GATWOOD AND SAVAGE, 

WHO WERE RESCUED, AFTER HAVING BEEN 

BUEIED ALIVE 

SEVEN HUNDRED FEET UNDER GROUND, 

FOR FOURTEEN DAYS AND THIRTEEN HOURS 

^^TX"3?3E3:C>-0" , X B POOD, 
IN THE 

BLUE ROCK COAL MINES, 

BY ROBERT H GILLMORE. 



ZANESVILLE, OHIO: 
ILL MORE & BENNETT, POINTERS 

1856. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by 
GILLMOBE & BENNETT, 
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States few 
the Southern District of Ohio. 



A CARD, 

The manuscript copy of the principal narrative 
in this work, is authenticated by the following 
card : " We, the undersigned, have had the fore- 
going narrative read to us. It was taken down by 
Mr. Robert H. Gill more as told by us to him. It is 
correct in every particular, and gives a faithful ac- 
count of our doings and sufferings while in the 
mine. We have given a full narrative to no other 
person" 

WILLIAM EDGELL, 
JAMES PEARSON, 
JAMES GATWOOD, 
EDWARD SAVAGE. 
Witness : 

L. G. Converse, 
James Owens, 
J. P. Weaver. 



As an additional proof of authenticity, it may be 
stated that the narrative was read in the presence 
of the rescued men, to a large assembly of the 
citizens ot Zanesville, on Friday evening, May Jl6th f 
1856. 



EXPLANATION. 

The cut on the prec 'ding page is a Plat of the 
greater portion of the 13 hie Rock Coal Mine. 

The entry in use, at the time of the accident, 
opens upon the banK oi the Muskingum river 
at A. 

From A to 1 the accident occasioned no injury 
to the eniry. 

(1) Commencement of obstruction. 

(2) Point where the men were rescued. 

(4) Room where Edgell was at work. 

(5) <• * Savage " " 

(6) « " Pearson " " 
(1) " " Gat wood " * 

(S) Room occupied by the men during their con- 
finement. 

The deposit of Copperas-water was found in a 
room near 7. 

The entry extending in a right line from 1 to the 
top of the cut, is the old entry to which frequent 
reference is made in the narrative. Its direction is 
nearly west. 

0. Old Owen's entry; not in use and filled up. 

Distance from A to 2; seven hundred feet. 



PRE FACE. 



On Tuesday the 13th of May, 1856 , I pro- 
ceeded in company with a friend, to visit the 
scene of the late catastrophe at Blue Rock, 
with the design of obtaining from the rescued 
miners, a narrative of their thoughts, acts 
and sufferings during their (nearly) fifteen 
days horrible imprisonment in the mine. 

The interest which the community, and in- 
deed the whole country, has felt in their fate: 
the intense anxiety with which the labors of 
the workmen were regarded before that fate 
was known ; the rejoicing of tens of thousands 
when their safety and deliverance were announ- 
ced, all this induced me to believe that such a 
narrative would be a most acceptable offering 
to the public. In addition to this, the case is 
one which presents to the eye of science many 
marked anomalies. History has few parallels. 



To permit it to pass without preserving a full 
and accurate record of all the accompanying 
crcumstances would not only have prevented 
the gratification of a very natural curiosity by 
the public,but would have deprived investigation 
of reliable data for determining the causes of 
facts which seem almost miraculous and inex- 
plicable. 

These circumstances I have endeavored to 
atate with the utmost accuracy. So far as the 
narrative of the rescued men is concerned, it 
may be received as scrupulously correct in all 
particulars. In reporting it, I confined my- 
self exactly to the statements given me by 
the men themselves, endeavoring, as far as 
would be compatible with perspicuity, to use 
their specific language. The greater portion 
of two days was occupied in thus eliciting from 
them the narrative. During this time they 
were all together, and as each told his story, 
his recollection was assisted by that of his 
companions. I sought to get not only the 
minute facts, but all the facts ; and endeav- 
ored as far as I was capable to cover 
with my questions . the whole range of 
enquiry When I had finished, and read to 
them the manuscript, each replied individually 
to my question, that he "knew of nothing 
more to give." 



8 



The matter which precedes the narrative 
was, most of it, prepared for the Zanesville 
Gazette; a portion of it I wrote upon the 
ground, as the circumstances transpired. 

I cannot conclude without tendering my ac- 
knowledgements to the citizens of Blue Rock 
for the many kind attentions I have received 
during my repaated visits ; and adding, at the 
same time, my humble testimony in perpetu- 
ation of their heroic efforts during the fourteen 
days of agony and suspense which will make 
their neighborhood a celebrity through coming 
*"*)?• Robert H. Gillmorr. 

zanesville, May 15, 1856. 



THE BLUE ROCK COAL MINES. 



The above mines are situated on the wes- 
tern bank of the Muskingum river, in the an- 
gle formed by the confluence of the small 
stream known as the Blue Rock run, with 
that river, and in Harrison township, Muskin- 
gum County, Ohio. The stratum of coal at this 
point is about four feet in thickness. The 
southern outcrop of this particular vein, is 
found a short distance below ; beyond that it 
disappears entirely. In quality, the coal is 
excellent, and is of the peculiar formation 
which miners denominate "curly." It is in 
extensive demand, principally by salt furnaces 
situated at points above and below on the 
Muskingum river. 

The stratum of rock which overlays this 
vein is a slaty soap-stone ; light blue in color 
subject to rapid disintegration when ex- 
posed to atmospheric influences; but forming 
an admirable and safe roof for the miner when 
properly protected. 

The particular mine which has occasioned 
the following pages, is owned by Messrs Ste- 
phen H. Guthrie and James Owens jr. Pre- 



10 



vious to the time at which these gentlemen 
came in possession of it, a large amount of 
coal had been taken out from the northern 
portion and the mining is said to have been 
cone acted in an unusally reckless manner. — 
It is stated, on good authority, that many of 
the looms were forty feet square ; and the pil- 
lars small in size and comparatively few in 
number. The hill above the mine, is suppos- 
ed to have an altitude of not less than two 
hundred and twenty feet. Such an immense 
pressure should have dictated more than ordi- 
nary caution. The absence of this has proved 
the cause of one of the most remarkable catas- 
trophes on record — especially remarkable,inas- 
inuch as against such overwhelming odds, not 
a single life was lost by it. 

The mine fell in on Friday, the 25th of 
April, at about 11 o'clock A. M. 'At the 
time of the accident, twenty persons, some of 
whom were lads, were employed in it. Some 
were standing on the platform at the mouth 
of the entry, others on the inside saved them- 
selves by a precipitate flight. Upon examina- 
tion, it was found that sixteen were safe, but 
that four persons, viz. William Edgell, Jas. 
Pearson, James Gatwood and Edwakd Savage 
were either imprisoned in the mine or crushed 
to death by the falling mountain. Hope pre- 



11 

ponderated strongly in favor of the former alter- 
native, inasmuch as it was known that these 
persons were at work in a portion of the mine 
from which no large amount of coal had been 
taken, and which, in consequence, was sup- 
posed to be comparatively safe. 

The following is a list of the persons who 
escaped. 

James (Duck) Menear, 
John Hopper, 
James Larrison, 
George Ross, 
George Robinson, 
William Edgell, Sr. 
Uriah McGee, 
William Gheen, 
Timothy Lyons, 
Patrick Savage (boy) 
Hiram Larrison '* 
G. W. Simmons, 
Franklin Ross, (boy.) 
William Miller, ik 
James Savage, " 

Thomas Edgell, " 
It was immediately determined that an at- 
tempt should be made for the rescue of the 
imprisoned men. The same evening the 
water was drawn off from the mouth of the 
entry, and as soon thereafter as possible the 
excavation commenced. 

The labor and danger involved in this can 



12 



scarcely be appreciated by one who was not 
on the ground. It was necessary to combine 
the greatest possible speed with the utmost 
caution A single false step would have 
brought a terrible destruction upon the exca- 
vators ; for during their labors, the crumbling 

HILL HUNG WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TONS OF 
PRESSURE, IMMINENT AND THREATENING ABOVE 
THEIR HEADS !* 

Have all the annals of the past a peril by flood 
or held or fire more awful? 
_ Can history point us to an example of hero- 
ism more deserving honor, than that of the 
brave men who labored night and dayalthoudi 
every moment in danger of a sudden and ter- 
rible death, to rescue these four persons/who 
were bound to them only by the ties of a com- 
mon humanity ? 

The advance was made step by step Three 
men only could work at a time. Indeed it 
may be said that every foot gained, was the 
work of a single individual, for there was room 
lor but one workman in front; the others, be- 
hind him received the fragments as he passed 
them back. Posts and caps were used to sup- 



13 



port the falling roof. The material encounter- 
ed, was principally rock, of the character be- 
fore described, sometimes in small fragments 
at others in immense masses, lying in every 
conceivable position. In one direction, the 
rock would split with the freedom of a chest- 
nut log ; in the other it was almost as tough 
and stubborn as iron. 

The work was continued in this mode, night 
and day, with varying success, for fourteen 
days. An immense concourse was, most of 
the time, on the ground. No difficulty was 
experienced in obtaining workmen. Miners 
Hocked (o the rescue of their brethren from 
miles around. Merchants and farmers clothed 
themselves in miner's costume and joined in the 
common labor. Brave hearts and stout arms 
at last gained the victory. 

At a meeting held upon the ground May 2d, 
the following proceedings were had : 

At a meeting of citizens here assembled, H. 
Teeter was appointed President, and W. T. 
Talley Vice President; P. Devol and Samuel 
Roberts. Secretaries. On motion, Dr. A. Lewis 
"and Rev. J. J. M. Dicky were appointed a 
committee on resolutions ; who retired and re- 
ported the following preamble and resolutions, 
which were read and adopted : 



14 

Whereas, The citizens here assembled, sen- 
sibly, and feelingly realizing the awfully ca- 
lamitous affair in which the lives of four of our 
citizens are jeopardised, even to dreadful des- 
truction, either by starvation, suffocation from 
poisonous gasses, or by being crushed be neath 
falling rocks and earth — have in solemn con- 
vention assembled to give expressions of 
sympathy and to give a true statement of af- 
fairs as they exist: 

Resolved, That to correct false reports, and 
to keep the public informed as to the true con- 
dition of matters involved in this sad catastro- 
phe, a committee of three be appointed to re- 
port as often as necessary for the publie 
through the press. 

Resolved, That in view of the expense in- 
curred by some of the residents, who have 
spared neither time, money, provisions nor 
labor, to rescue their friends, persons whose 
circumstances are in no way able to incur such 
sacrifices, that the citizens of the Muskingum 
valley be called upon to contribute of their 
abundance to defray the above expense. 

Resolved, That in view of the risk of life, 
undermining of health, and fatigue of those 
who have so manfully and energetically labor- 
ed day and night to dig out and reach those 
entombed alive \ the public be called upon to 



15 



contribute the sums necessary to pay them for 
their time and service. 

Resolved, That the indefatigable energy 
and untiring perseverance which has charac- 
terized the owners of the bank, in sparing 
neither money nor labor, to save those unfor- 
tunate miners, calls for universal admiration 
and gratitude. 

Resolved, That in the opinion of those best 
acquainted with the premises; the expense of 
each consecutive day is about $200,00. 

Resolved, That a Committee of Finance be 
appointed to disburse the funds collected and 
that H. Teeter, D. Devol, Samuel Dozer and 
J. P Weaver, be that Committee. 

Resolved, That every man in the communi- 
ty consider himself a committee of one to so- 
licit donations to be placed in the hands of 
the Finance Committee. 

Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting are 
herby tendered to the Rev. J. J. M. Dick- 
ey, for his eloquent remarks on this occasion. 
Resolved, That these proceedings be pub- 
lished in the Zanesville, McConnelsville and 
Malta papers. Adjourned. 

11. TEETER, Pres't. 
W. T. Talley, V. P. 

D. Devol, ) ^ 
Sam. Roberts, J J 



ESCAPE FROM THE MINE OF WILLIAM 
EDGELL, Sr., 



AS NARRATED BY HIMSELF. 



"I am the father of William Edgell, jr., one 
of the rescued miners. Was at work in the 
coal mine on the 25th of April. Ate my din- 
ner that day,at about 10 o'clock, A. M. Miners 
usually dine about the middle of the forenoon. 
I noticed nothing wrong about the bank that 
morning. At half past ten o'clock, went in 
with my car as quickly as 1 could and loaded 
up with coal. The miners were racing, and I 
was not disposed to be behind. Returning 
with a load of coal, pushing my car before me, 
I encountered another resting on the track. A 
lad was standing beside it, whom we all regard 
as rather weak in the upper storey. He was 
crying ; and when I asked him what was the 
matter, replied, that the bank was falling in. 
Pausing to listen, I heard a roaring off to the 
left, in the old diggings, which are situated in 
the northern part of the mine. I hesitated a 
moment, what to do. Noticing that the boy 
seemed bewildered and stupified, and that he 
was standing in a place which would probably 



17 

be the first to fall from overhead, I toldhim to 
move. He seemed to have lost the little wit 
he had, and stood stock still. " Come away," 
said I, " move, or I'll make you do it." He 
finally started for the mouth of the entry, — 
Having got him off, I thought I would go back 
to where Pearson, Gatwood, Savage, my son 
William, and others were at work, and inform 
them of their danger. In the mean time I ob- 
served that the pillars of coal were craivling 
outwards at the bottom. Chunks of coal be- 
gan to fly from one side of the entry against 
the other. They went with such force that I 
think they would have cut a man in two, if they 
had hit him. All this occurred in less time 
than it takes me to tell it. Others had got to 
where I was standing, with their cars. I start- 
ed back to warn the boys ; but it was too late. 
The mine was falling so rapidly in that direc- 
tion, that it would have beenmadness to ven- 
ture. The way was already impassable. I 
turned towards the mouth; it was falling in 
that direction, too. The principal commotion 
seemed to be over towards the north, in the 
old part of the mine. I called to the boys : 
" hurry out — hurry out." As I turned, some- 
thing struck my light and knocked it out. — 
There were lights behind me, but I stumbled 
on in perfect darkness. In the race I struck 
2 



18 



a pile of earth which had fallen in the entry, 
and pitched clear over it. When I rose, I was 
on fair ground again, and went on rapidly, cal- 
ling to the boys to follow. I came to a place 
where *he light shone in from the mouth. I 
was safer now, but there was danger yet. At 
once, a sudden faintness came over me. I grew 
blind and dizzy ; my knees became weak and 
it seemed impossible to move one foot before 
another ; they were as heavy as lead. But 
somehow I struggled on and found myself 
upon the platform. 

I rallied at once and determined to go back 
for the rescue of the men inside, but those 
around, wouldn't allow it. In perhaps three 
minutes, three others came out. They descri- 
bed the condition of the inside. I knew in a 
moment that it was impossible to make way 
through alive. My poor boy was buried in 
the mountain. You may imagine how I felt ; 
I cannot tell you. 

Timothy Lyons who boarded with me, was 
the last one out. He had started out to see 
what was keeping the track obstructed. In 
doing so, he ran against some other cars and 
knocked his light out. In the pause he heard 
the bank groaning and breaking. Hurrying 
back to waxn others and having done so, he 
started to return, but became bewildered in 



19 

the dark. He became completely lost, and 
knew not where to go. The falling mass had 
crowded him up against a pillar. His right 
arm was caught and held tightly against it. — 
He sought to get it free, pulling until it almost 
left the socket ; but it would not come. He 
wrenched it again ; but it seemed immovable. 
In his despair he threw all his strength into 
one effort more. He was free. In the suddea 
movement, his left hand struck a car. He knew 
it must be upon the track. Blind, bleeding, 
and stunned, fighting his way through the fal- 
ling mine, he at last stood upon the platform. 
A gash six inches long, was cut in his back; 
another on his head, and his shoulders were 
bruised all over. When he reached us, he 
was all a gore of blood. 



From the Zaneevjlle Gazette— Extra, May 10, 

THE FOURTEENTH, AND LAST, DAY AT THE WINE. 

A LONG SUSPENSE,-TIIE FINAL RESCUE. 

Friday Morning, May 9th. 

Arrived on the ground at 10 o'clock this morn- 
ing. A large number of people in attendance, all 
of whom are gathered around the opening of the 
mine, but prevented from obstructing it by a rope, 
which is, stretched, circus fashion, on f takes, en- 
closing about one eighth of an acre. Three men 
are constantly at work on the lever of a large bel- 
lows which is situated at the exterior of the orifice, 
supplying the excavators with air, which is carried, 
through a long section of .hose, which is said to be 
further lengthened by lead pipe. 

Eleven o'clock. There is much excitement. A 
miner has just been relieved from his 'trick.' He 
has a crowd of people around him, to whom he is 
narrating a communication just had with the buried 
miners. Get him away from the throng. Says 
that just before he came from the mine, EdgelI(one 
of the four who have now been entombed for 14 
days) came within talking distance, and asked the 
narrator, George Lyons, what dav it was. Told 
him Friday morning. Edgell evidently had the 

impression that he had been in only one week. 

Was anxious to know what time we could §-et him 
out. Told him we thought we should be able to 
do it in the course of the day. Said I would stay 



21 

with him. He replied, " do George ; come in to 
us—God bless your souls, come in to us." He did 
not complain of hunger: said they were "well 
and happy, only that they had no light— their 
lamps had gone out when the fall first occurred." 
Told Edgell he must go bacK to his place and stay 
there until we called him or came to him. Said he 
would, but he must come every 3 hours to know 
how they were getting along. 

The miners s iy that they are getting along slow- 
ly. A large rock has fallen slantingly into the en- 
try and there is no way but to block it up and 
excavate under it; are afraid the rock will give 
them trouble. It is possible that it may slip, and it 
so a large amount of loose rock and earth will fol- 
low. It is dangerous working at best. The whole 
hill above is crumbling and the props are very in- 
secure against such an immense pressure. The 
foul air is also very troublesome. The workmen 
say that they do not experience any difficulty in 
breathing; but their lights will not barn. The 
'damp' seems to be lodged in nests, sometimes a 
lamp will go out one foot distant from the spot 
where it will burn freely. Sometimes it will burn 
best at the top of the mine, and sometimes it will 
go oat there but will burn very well at the bottom. 
It has been necessary to weather board the passage 
on the sides and overhead and stop all the cracks 
with clay, to prevent the ingress of fcul air. 

Conversed with a miner who was at work yes- 
terday when the discovery was first made that the 
men were alive, says their attention was arrested by 
a smothered 'humming' like that of men holding 



22 

subdued conversation. Listening attentively, they 
then heaid them walking about over the track. — 
Having given a halloo, it was responded to. Then 
called to them, asking if all were well ; reply, "all 
are well ; but c ur lights are out." They next en- 
quned if any had been killed by the accident.— 
Gatwood was anxious to know if his wife and 
friends were near him. None of them seemed to 
have any idea oi time. 

At one o'clock P. M.— Bad news. The men 
are not progressing in their work, in consequence 
of foul air. Their lamps cannot be kept burning. 
They are compelled to work with the light 15 or 
20 feet distant. A workman has just come out 
who says that they have not been excavating for 
an hour. A new experiment is being tried. Mir- 
rors have been taken in to reflect the light. A man 
has I een sent off post hsste, for a globe lamp, with 
the hope that they may succeed in making it burn. 
Things look gloomy. Some are predicting that 
the men will never be got out alive. A workman 
just from the inside, says that the poor fellows are 
complaining of being ven hungry. They are 
anxious to know why the noise of digging has 
ceased— -say they cannoi st;md it much longe?. It 
is supposed that only about five feet of eaith yet 
remain to be taken out. Edgell seems to be in low 
spirits. Seems to think he will not get out alive; 
has sent messages to his friends, telling them not to 
grieve for him, that if he dies he will die happy. 
The mirror experiment is a failure. It has been 
abandoned. The globe lamp has also had to be 
thrown aside. It will not bum. 



23 

Three o'clock— The crowd is increasing. Not 
less than a thousand people are now on the ground, 
a great proportion of whom are females. The in- 
terest is intense. 

Good news. A car has just come out loaded 
with earth and rock. The men are at work again, 
and working bravely. The police h;»ve great dif- 
ficulty in keeping people outride the rope. 

A report is current that the men have been reach- 
cd but is directly contradicted. Another workman 
just from within. A hundred voices in different 
directions are calling out, "Pete come here"-- 
" come herePete"— u Get on the platform and tell 
us all about it" We get his attention for a mo- 
ment. He savs they are getting along finely, that 
thev have got to a place where they can see 8 or 9 
feet over the rubbish. The roof of the mine is 
becoming very good and safe. Does not know 
anything about Edgell and his companions ; hasn t 
heard them for some time. Cars are coming out 
frequently, loaded with pieces ot stone, and each 
one makes an excitement, in the crowd as it appears. 
A rush ensues, so that it is not possible to keep the 

wav clear. 

the workmen inform us that they have greatly 
reduced the size of the excavation, it being the ob- 
ject now to make an entrance just sufficient to ad- 
mit of the passage of a man. The last time a con- 
versation was had with the poor fellows buried 
within, thev seemed to have lost all courage, and, 
as th.;y left 'the plaoe where their conversations take 
place, to retire to a safer position, they declared that 
they were going back to lie down and die. 



24 

Half past four. All persons have just be^n re- 
quested to retire from the area around the opening, 
and the physicians and their assistants have been 
called into it, in order to be ready for the occasion 
that all are lookii.g for with such interest. As a 
particular favor, we have been included among 
the M. D's. 

Worst news o I all. Has providence withdrawn 
from us ? — In twenty minutes the men would have 
been rescued, but the mint has fallen in ! 

The obstruction is not supposed to be very ex- 
tensive but the workmen are so frightened that they 
can give us no reliable information. It may indeed 
be true that the four men have laid down to die. - 
This suspense is horrible. 

The cas have ceased coming from the mine anc 
a general dejection has settled over the whole as- 
sembly. 

Half past six. The news is more favorable. A 
workman from within informs us that the rock 
which has fallen in, is only a spaul or fragment 
and, although quite large, is not so great as was ex- 
pected. They have had another conversation with 
the buried men. They seem in better spirits and 
tell the workmen not to be discouraged, that the 
falling in is not extensive, and, say they, "we can 
hold out two days longer if necessary." It is 
thought now that it will require most of the night 
to remove the obstruction. 

The "'John Buck" comes in sight and although 
the guards are crowded with passengers, she does 
not stop at the mine but lands at a warehouse 
above. We regretfully hasten to get on board leav- 



25 

in" it for other eyes to behold and other pens to 
chronicle the event, which, we trust in providence, 
will occur before another twenty-four hours have 

passed. ■■' "«_'-'• 

The journal is continued by Mr. Guthrie, to 
whose kindness we arc indebted for the following 

notes : r .. 

tfeue/i o'clock.— The diggers report, the fall was 
not so serious as was supposed. It occurred m the 
left of the main entry. It made a very loud noise. 
The men are safe and in good heart. 

Half past seven.— Word sent out for the best 
set of wheelers on the ground. They are again 
driving in over the last fall. The roof is sound 
overhead. 

Cars out again ; all right inside. 

Eight o'clock.— Some delay. Posts and c^ps 
are wanted. The men are moving slowly to secure 
a post on the right, that the roof may not again give 

way. , , 

Half past eight.— -The roof is reported sound.. 
Men are much encouraged. Watch fires are lit up 
without. Cars out again ; al in fine spirits. The 
cars are out again once in fifteen minutes. They 
are working lively. 

Ed^ell from within cheers the men : tells them 
to 'go^it— can stand il for two days yet/— Cars out 
in six minutes 

Glorious News /—The entombed men are all 
standing up cheering the workmen. One of the 
latter is fanning the poor lellows. 

Orders are sent out to bring in necessary cloth- 
ing. Great excitement; but good order is preserv- 



26 



it „In e asse , mb! y, is ^quested not to cheer when 
the men are brought out. 

thfmL PaSl eleven -- Cleari "S the space between 

THEY ARE RESCUED ! 

They are brought this side the cave. They are 
safe !— Hurrah I —Thank God. y 

Edgell and Pearson are able to walk. All are stop- 
ped by order of the physicians, in the entry _ 
Doctors Brown, Lewis and Rusk have gone in with 
rice water and soup. Find hem requiring no med- 
ical treatment except good nursing. 

Committees of four to each person are appoint- 
ed who bear them carefully to the cabins 

Poor fellows. No sons of Ethiopia ever wore 
blacker faces. How pinched and starved they 
look! How wild and prominent arc their area! 
white eyes. As you look upon them, you can see 
but httle else But what are those white f row" 
down their cheeks ?-_Tears? 

Considering all things, Edgell looks remarkably 
well; being a fleshy young man, he is not much 
emaciated.Pea son, and the boy Savage are some- 
what reduced Gatwo >d very much so ? nd very 
weak. Edgell took a taste of soup, while in the 
emry and remarked that it was much better than 
the copperas- water they have been drinking 

vZm b ° y SaV '? ge u rSt asked for *9"to '«J 'tobacco. 
Edgel enquired what day it was, and being an- 
swered that H was Frilay,he turned to Pearson and 

«u week!' ym Wi lladbeen in °«h 



27 



The men report that for the first five or six days, 
Pearson and Gatwood were very delirious, bm that 
the others were peifectly sane. They did not use 
the jug of oil. The only food they have had 
during their whole imprisonment was the dinner 
provided for two men. 

After the men were rescued, very little conver- 
sation with them was allowed, so that we hi ve 
nothing further of interest, to report, more than that 
the men are all doing well. 

The workmen have burrowed through about lour 
hundred feet ot earth and rock. The men were 
rescued at a point seven hundred feet distant from 
the entrance to the mine. 



PERSONAL NARRATIVE 

OF GATWOOD. PEARSON. EDGELL AND SAVAGE. 

James Gatwood, aged twenty-two years. "Had 
been married exactly five months the day I was im- 
prisoned in the coal mine. Had been at work only 
three days when the accident took place ; and previous 
to that time, had never struck a pick in coal. Rather 
liked the business. 

"The morning the accident happened, and while 
taking oir my last car-load, just after passii g the dip 
was considerably frightened by hearing a o re at 
crash behind me. I now thinkit was the first symp- 
toms of giving way in the mine ; but at 'he time,* as a 
car soon after came up to me, from behind, I concluded 
that the noise had been made by it, although I remem- 
ber thinking that the noise was* a very loud one for a 
car to make." 

Edward Savage. "I am in my sixteenth year.— 
Have a father living, but no mother. Have been liv- 
ing with my Uncle " Duck" (James Menear) ever 
since my Mothers death." 

James Pearsox. " Am in n y thirty-third year.— 
Have been mining, off and on, ever since I was four- 
teen years old. Never before met with any accident 
m a coal bank. Worked in the entry in which we 
were imprisoned, for the first time last summer; felt 
afraid of the mine then. Too much coal had been 
taken out of it, and the pillars left were so small, that 
I thought it could not be otherwise than dangerous. I 
can scarcely tell why I allowed myself to continue as 
a miner in it. Have a wife and two children." 



29 

William Edgell, jr., aged twenty years. " I had 
been at work in the mine but half a day when the ac- 
cident occurred. At the time it happened was just 
coming out with my sixth car-load. 

"The mine gave way on the 25th day of April, at 
about 11 o'clock A. M. On the morning of that day, 
there had been considerable confusion among the 
workmen, owing to the fact that the track had not been 
kept clear; got a little out of humor myself. About 
the time the accident happened, we had our cars ready 
loaded to come out, and were waiting tor others to come 
back. As they did not come, we supposed they were idle 
and finally started with our cars, determined to come 
out at all events, and if we met them returning, to 
make them turn off the track. Myself, Pearson and 
Savage started out at the same time. My car was in 
front , Pearson next and Savage behind. We had gone 
about two hundred feet, or a little more, when I ob- 
served that my car ran over some slate which had fal- 
len in the entry, and then in a moment, it ran against 
another car which was standing on the track. I stop- 
ped, supposing that it belonged to some one who was 
digging in some of the side entries, and called oirt : 
H \vhose in the h— 1 car is this standing on the track ?" 
I listened for an answer; but in a minute or less, I 
heard the bank breaking with a sound like that of dis- 
tant thunder, I turned round and said to Pearson ; 
« Jim, the bank is falling in." He replied « it can >t 
be Bill." One of us, I forget which, said : " let us 
hurry and get out." We ran around our cars, and 
had advanced about twenty feet, when I suddenly 
struck a pile of slate which had fallen down, blocking 
the entry entirely up. In doing so I knocked my light 



30 



out. Finding I could not get ahead, I called out to 
Pearson, whose light was still burning, and said to him, 
run back Jim, there is a bluff' place and we can't get 
out We started back at once ; the slate was falling 
in chunks from the roof between us and our cars ■ we 
hurried back beyond them and met Ned Savage, Whose 
car had got up to ours, and was stopped on the track 
by them. I said to him, "Ned, for God's sake the 
bank^has all fallen in ;" he replied, "no, it can 't be, 
HU . Pearson then suggested that we should go back 
and get into the old diggings in the north pan of the 
mine, as that might not have fallen in. We were 
about starting when Ned Savage said, "let's get all the 
oil we can find." We started back to hunt for oil 
when we met Gatwood coming with his car loaded 
It had become fast in a hole on the track and he was 
trying to get it loose, I said to him, "Jim, the bank has 
all laJlen in, he replied, in a frightened way, " Oh 
no, I reckon not." Pearson told him to come with us' 
he " thought we could get out through the old di^ins 
at the air hole ;" "if we can't," says he, "we're 
gone. We all started together as fast as we could 
go, and got about 200 feet to an old blind entry. We 
found the mine falling faster than it had been at the 
place where we left the cars. The falling was still 
accompanied by a rumbling noise ; the pillars of coal 
along the entry, were bursting out at the sides and bot- 
tom, and the whole mine was jarring and trembling. 
We found the passage we aimed for entirely stopped 
up ; then we turned back into the main entry where 
our cars were, thinking we might possibly find a way 
out there, but we saw it falling worse than ever. We 
found we were completely shut in. We at once saw 



31 

there was no escape. We gave up all hope. Pearson 
spoke first and said " boys, let us go back and make 
up our bed whereon to die." We went into some of 
the other miners' rooms where we found shovels which 
had bten used by them ; then going to the head of the 
entry, in a small room ( at 8 ) we shoveled together 
a quantity of dry, loose dirt for our bed. The room 
which we had chosen, like the other parts of the mine, 
was only four feet high. To stand up straight in it 
was, oi course, impossible. Miners when at work, 
always sit down or kneel. 

In our search, we had found two dinners which had 
been left by the hands. We carried them to our bed, 
where we sat down and all took a piece. We thought 
we might as well eat all we wanted at once; but after 
we got through there was about half of it left. Our 
own dinners were not brought to the mine as we were 
in the habit of coming out and going to our homes for 
that meal. The provisions we found consisted of four 
pieces or bread, two of which were buttered and clap- 
ped buUer side together ; four small pieces of fried ba- 
con ; two boiled eggs and two pickles split in two. — 
None of us felt much hungry. W T e had other things 
to think about. Pearson took Savage with him and 
went back to his (Pearson's) room where they found a 
gallon jug of water which contained about three 
quarts ; Savage went to the room where Jim Larnson 
had been working, where he found a half gallon jug, 
which I (Edgell) remembered having taken a drink 
from out on the platform, in the morning, before he 
brought it into the mine. This jug was only half full 
or thereabouts. We also found a jug belonging Jo 
James Menear which had only about half a gallon in 



32 

it. We gathered these jugs (all we could find) together 
and set them down by the bed which we had made. 
Very little talking was done while this was going on. 
Pearson, when he went for his jug of water, bro ight 
with him his can of oil holding about half a pint. I 
(Edgell) got my father's jug of oil in which there was 
about two thirds of a quart, Gatwood had a pint flask 
in his pocket irom which he said he had filled his lamp 
a couple of times. This was all the oil we had. 

All this time, it is to be understood, that the part of 
the mine in which we were, was perfectly solid, though 
we could, distinctly hear it cracking and falling out 
towards the mouth. We all laid down on our bed. 
Pearson said he thought that if the folks on the out- 
side, tried at all to get us out, they would commence 
at the old Owen's entry, which was about 200 feet 
south from the mouth of the entry we used, and dig us 
out from there. I agreed with him about this, and said 
they never could open the mine which h-ui fallen in, 
for the whole mountain had given way. Gatwood 
said he thought so too, and " did'nt believe the men 
on the outside would risk their lives to get us out." — 
While lying here, we talked the matter over and tried 
to imagine every place where there might be any pos- 
sibility of escape. We could think of none. 

After awhile we got up and went to the main entry. 
We found the slate was still falling and the entry get- 
ting filled up nearer to us. We did not stop long to 
look at it, but as we came back we crossed over to the 
old entry again, which was also still caving in. Find- 
ing our search useless we came back to our beds again 
and laid down. 

While we were lying there, Pearson said to us, 



33 

<boys let us mVce a bar^in amon* ourselves." I 
said* to him, "well, what is it? I think we'll he will- 
ilig." He said, " whoever of us dies first, let the 
others lay him down on one side of the room ; but on 
no account take him out of if, so that when we are all 
dead, we'll lie here together*" We made the bargain. 
If one of us had died we would have placed him on 
the outside, and then we would have laid close beside 
him. Our room would not have held more than four. 
It required us to lie very close together. After the 
agreement was made, Edgell said, "I hope I may be 
ihe first one to go." We all expressed the same wish. 

All this time we had a lamp burning. For a time, 
after we were first imprisoned, when we were sitting 
still, we would put out all our lamps but one ; but 
whenever we went to examine the entries, as we did 
at short intervals, we would light two or three. About 
supper time or what we supposed to be about that time 
(for none of us had a watch) we ate what was left of 
the two dinners. At this meal Savage said he was very 
hungry, and we all concluded that we might as well 
eat what remained. Whenever we were thirsty we 
drank as much water from the jui>s as each of us de- 
sired. As there was not much of it, it did not last us 
very long. 

When the mine was falling fastest, our prison 
oecame very cold. The air was so chilly that^ it 
seemed like pouring cold water down our backs. The 
only way we could at all keep warm was to get down 
on our bed and take turns of lying in the middle. — 
Some times we would lie on top of each other ; but do 
what we would, we were always cold. Edgell thinks 
he never suffered so much the bitterest winter he ever 
3 



knew. Pearson and Gatwood are sure that they never felt 
the cold so severely an) day last winter. We were all 
thinl\ clothed, none of us, having anything more than 
a shirr and n pair of pan's, and besides this, we had 
all of us, according to miner's fashion, torn off the 
sleetes ol our shirrs to Keep them out of ihe way when 
We were at work; consequently our arms suffered 
more from the odd than any part of our bodies. Short- 
ly after we were shut in, Penrson in going into one of 
the rooms found a pea jacket which had belonged to 
Bdl Gheen. This he mnde use of, a* d derived some 
comfort fro n it, although both arms were missing from 
ft also. Ned Savage too, was fortuna'e in finding a 
woolen sack, which we recognized as the property of 
a little boy named Franklin Ross. Ned found it much 
too small for a good fit ; but after awhile he managed 
to get it on, )et not without tearing one of the arms 

o«: 

We think we filled our lamps nine or ten times. — 
They generally burn about an hour for a filling. At 
U r this we found that they began to burn dimly and 
w* hat! great difficulty in keeping them alive. We 
lighted three of them and set the wicks all together so 
as to form but one blaze. The lamps we use aie 
shaped like small coffee pots, the wick coming out of 
the spout at the side ; so that it was \ery easy to ar- 
range them in this way. They kept burning more 
and more faintly. We trimmed them and kept lift- 
ipg tip the wick, but it was all of no avail. They at 
last went out, and h ft us in total darkness. There was 
not the least glimmer of light left for our eyes No 
midnight was ever so dark. Gatwood says he placed 
his hand before his eyes in the hope that he might be 



35 

ablp to see it, but it was impossible to discover anything 

in the slightest decree. After our lamps went nut, 
not withstanding we knew it was in consequence of thte 
damp, Edgell seemed very anxious to light them a^ain. 
He asked if any of us had any matches. Pearson said 
he had, and ^avu him five nr six which happened 10 
be in his pocket. We had a board which we used for 
a pillow. E Igell raised himself upon his elbow aid 
struck one upon the board. It blazed and continued 
to burn until the brimsume was gone and then went 
out. He tried one after another, they all blazed up 
like the first, but like it went out as soon as the brim- 
sto ae was consumed. He then laid down and wasla- 
mentinorour want of light. We seemed to feel 'he 
want of ligit m )re th an aaviam^ else. Thepen-ct 
darkness was the most terrible part of our situation. 
After Edgell had been lying down with the rest of us for 
some time, (he and Gatwood were then lying in the 
middle) he turned to him (Gatwood) and asked him if 
he had any matches. Gatwood says, " I thought at 
first that I would deny that I had any, for I did not 
think they would burn then, and I hoped that they 
would do better after a while; but then I thought again 
that it was death at all events, and it would not be right 
to lie about it at such a time. The bottle of oil which 
was in my left pocket, had got unstopped, and it had 
leaked all over me. My hands were covered with it, 
and I was afraid that if I took hold of the matches I 
would wet them and keep them from burning ; but I 
managed to get hold of the paper in which they were 
wrapped and so handled them without injury. Edgell 
tried them just as he had the others, but met with no 
better success. Our last chance of light was now gone. 
None of the company had any matches remaining." 



36 

We had found a broad board, which we laid on its 
edge across the mouth of the room we were in, in 
order to keep out the cold air which seemed to 
pour in, in a stream from the entry. Whene\er we 
went to take a look at the entry where it had fallen 
in, we crept to the board, felt along it, until we reach- 
ed the opening, and then feeling lor the track, we went 
on our hands and feet until we came to the break-down. 
We were in the habit of doing this very olien, for this 
and lying on our bed were all we had to do. Sometime?, 
however, we would sit up and huddle together. We fre- 
quently had contentions as to who should lu j in the mid- 
dle. Indeed almost every time we changed, there was 
a little scolding on this account. We were very much 
crowded, as the room was small. We could only find 
sufficient space when we were lying diagonally across 
it. Sometimes we got out of fix, and the outsider 
would get jammed up against the sharp corners of the 
coal, when he would call out " lay over there." "I 
can't lie over," would be the reply, u for I am chuck 
up against the coal myself." "Well if you don't I 
won't lie here," would be the answer. The outsider 
would then get up awhile, but becoming cold he would 
soon lie down again. A little snarling would follow; 
then we would talk it all over; get eater-cornered 
again and be more comfortable. 

After the water in our jugs gave out, we used to 
quarrel a little as to who should go for water. We 
got our water in a room about 50 feet distant, which 
had a dip or low place in the floor. It was very 
strongly impregnated with copperas. In order 
to get it into the jug, we took the cover of a tin-buck- 
et, which had contained the dinner, and bending it so 
as to make a suitable mouth we would dip up the wa- 



37 

ter and pour it through the left hand which we held 
funnel-shaped at the mouth of the jug. This water 
was, at fust wry disagreeable, but Pearson thinks 
there was something about it which in some way help- 
ed to Mistain life. He thought very shortly alter he 
began using it, that the pangs of hunger became less 
severe and frequent and the gnawings at his stomach 
less painful For sometime after we were first confin- 
ed/he paroxysms of hunger weie frequent and terrible 
to bear. It seemed as though we must have food or 
die,then as the hours wore on, these paroxysms became 
less and less common. Towards the last they seldom 
occurred. "After a time," he says, "I became 
delirious. Strange dreams were running through my 
head. Every good dinner I ever ate seemed, in turn, 
to be standing before me again. I did not merely 
cfre un that J saw them thus, but they were as plain 
before my eyes as you are now, sir. Tables loaded 
with nobie baked hams and delicious pies, were just 
within my reach, but my delirium never extended so 
far as to make me believe I was eating them. Not- 
withstanding they were so temptingly near me, I never 
enjoyed more than the sight of them, and then I would 
wake up from my delusion to the full horror of my sit- 
uation." "Whether we had any hope left, I do not 
know; I can hardly tell. We would often talk over 
the chances of being rescued. They seemed very- 
dark ; and yet we frequently went towards the entries. 
I was the way out to the world; though we knew it 
was blocked up and impassible for us. 

Gat wood says l - I had the same strange delirium of 
which Pearson speaks. I also saw splendid dinners 
Standing beside me. I seemed to recollect all the good 
meals I had ever eaten. Once I seemed to be at home 



38 



sitting at the table, in front of my mother, in the posi- 
tion I aJwajs occupied. She passed me the bread, I 
thought; I took «, brought it to my dps and was aroused 
to nnd thai I had filled my mouth with bits of coal and 
flMSl At another time, 1 thought, my lather came mto 
roe hank, bearing m bis hand a plate, containing sev- 
eral uirrrs ,,| freshly baked short rake. I rouldseVthe 
fellow butler running, melted down the edge ol it — 
father say tome, -James are nou starving?" and 
Having handed me the bread, turned round and passed 
out again without another word. I look ihe bread and 
fought if to m y month but was again awakened to 
find myself bitmgone side of my hand." At another 
time I heard Edged eating something, and having 
asked him what it was, discovered that he was munch- 
ing coal." 

Our principal conversation was concerning things 
which we thought would be good to eat. First one 
and then another would mention something which 
would be peculiarly nice. Gatwood once commenced 
talking about an apple which his mother hnd given 
mm, and uhich was at home in his chest. He told us 
how refreshing it would be if he had it there to eat. 
lodged tried to stop him, saving, -quit talking so fool- 
is) Jim, jou are certainly getting o.az>." This kind 
of conversation seemed to aggravate our sufferings- 
making ns ieel how very nearly famished we were ' 
and after a while we found it would not do to permit 
it. \\ henevrr any of us began to talk in this way, the 
others would endeavor to stop him. Sometimes we 
would succeed in making him keep quiet, but at others, 
he would talk in spite of ns. Edgell says he remem- 
bers once to have put his hands over his ears in order 
that he might not hear it. He could not bear the torture 



39 

We frequently spoke to each other of our r<-fari v ff 
and friends. Gatwood once .said that he thought if 
he could only get to see hi> father and ra#t her alive, 
he would (In.* contented. He was continually pit)inz 
his will*. He would sometimes rise up on Ins elbu ■/ 
and call out very mournfully, "Oh Miriam, Miriam M 
Ed. » -II one: told bim to hush, " that she wa^ belter off 
than he was." 

Pearson, too, (grieved much for his wife. In some 
of hi* flighty spell*, be thftught he could ^« j <- his linle 
hoy playing on the green hit I 'Hide over hi^ head. W% 
was in much trouble f « >r his wile and sister He 
thought they must have given him up, and wondered, 
where they bad ^oue and what they were doing. He 
was much afflicted with palpitation of the heart. He 
had it so bad that the rest of us never allowed him but 
once, to go for water. We were afraid to permit him 
to leave US for tear he would never be able to get back 
•gain. We could all hear his heart beat. It sounded 
like a pheasant drumming in the distance, and was so 
loud (hat it vvould frequently prevent us from listening 
when ^ve wished to do «). He was subject to this 
complaint before the accident, but it was much a^ra- 
vated by hi*, suffering 

Gatwood once left the room with Ed gel I and Med 
Savage. Says, " I was <^oin^ to fill the jug with wa- 
ter and they were going on beyon I t) the break d >%rn. 
I attempted tri \t'\ back without waiting for them to - - 
turn ; but somehow missed my way and found that I 
was lost. After feeling around awhile, I gave if up and 
sat down to wait for Ned and £ lg*»ll to come back. 
Hearii^ their steps after awhile I called to K l^ell; helold 
me to come to him ; b it in endeavori ig to I i i », I 
seemed to git further away, aal finlly ha 1 to wait 



40 



until he came to me and took me by the hand, Ed^ell 
was once lost in a similar way, when he went alone to 
the break-down, ami had not a little trouble in finding 
his way back to the bed. After that we determined 
when we left the room, that we should always coin 
pairs. J ^ 

We experienced but little difficulty for want of air, 
though we were very much annoyed by the dust of 
which our bed was composed. It* was very fine and 
dry, and every time we turned or moved, it seemed to 
raise a cloud. Even clearing- mir throats,* when our 
faces were turned downwards, would blow the dust all 
over each other. Our throats and tongues and teeth 
would become coated with this disagreeable substance 
so that it became necessary to scrape it ofl with our 
fingers, wherever we could reach it. It would come 
off of our teeth m scales. It seemed to add very 
much to our thirst and kept us using the copperas- 
water continually. This water, although very dis- 
agreeable at first, became ra'her pleasant towards the 
last. It seemed to possess some nourishment. It be- 
pn to have a tast finally, like sweet milk, or rather 
like the whey of butter- milk. We always felt better 
after dunking it. * 

< We think we did not sleep much, nor long at a 
time- We were too cold to do so. Sometimes one 
of us would be able to sleep a little by getting io 
the m iddle and having another lie on the top "for acor- 

inlrl P , r S? . il,!v * ref ' rab,e 1 fo ,he *«? of tho Coppera.-wMer, if will 
J:™ a «w wie cmsiipated during xhv. en. ire eme of then im- 

K»nLn< Iwir er tl *"- T r cuen ,ieullh,ul BCl ™ was restored by 
Bicont ol cl>?,ers. and vnh rm preal d fficulry 



41 

erlet. Edgeli says that Pearson made the heaviest 
coverlet they had," and they could n't bear him on very 
long at a time. We sometimes used the heads of each 
other for pillows; but the pillow generally grumbled 
considerably before we had occupied it as long as we 
desired. . . 

We, of course, had no way of measuring time, but 
we thought we could tell from the coolness of the air, 
when evening came. We supposed there must be 
some crack in the bank through which the air was ad- 
mitted, for there was an evident difference at regular 
intervals. We did not attempt, however, to keep any 
account of the days. It was a long, unbroken night 

to us. 

Towards the last, Pearson did not go to the break- 
down at all. Savage and Gatwood say that they final- 
ly became so weak, that they could not go the whole 
distance without stopping once, and frequently twice, 
to rest, EdsHl however was able to make the dis- 
tance without resting. 

Veiy little merriment was indulged in by any of us. 
Gatwood remembers ha\ing taken one laugh at an 
amusing quarrel which took place between Pearson 
and Edgeli, as to who should sleep in the middle— 
Edgeli also had a laugh at Ned Savage once. They 
hacf started on their hands and feet to go to the break- 
down, and Ned who was behind, stumbled and fell ex- 
claiming as it happened, tl I'll be darned if that ain't 
down once, for the first time." 

Sivage seemed to keep in better spirits than any of 
us. He was in the habit of lamenting less about hi* 
friends. His principal cause of trouble was concern- 
ing his want of sleep. He frequently became spunky 
because not allowed to sleep in the middle, and when 



42 



his request was not granted he would threaten to tell 
h.s uncle "Duck" Menear and get us all a thrashing 

alter be got out. ■ 

We did not make use of the oil as food. Ed^N 
»ys that after they had been in about a week,orther* 
about, he took one s-.vallow of it. He found it very 
pleasant, resembling chicken jrravjr, as much as any 
U»ng else he can think of. He did not taste it after. 
wards, nor did he tell the other b *y S , but threw the 
can into one of the empty rooms. Hesays, " [ thmi-ht 
that death was certain at all events, and using the oil 
would only have prolonged our sufferings. I did not 
wis', to be the last to die" 

Garwood tasted the oil once, in the hope that it 
would relieve h.s throat which h*: J become sore from 
usmg copperas- water. He fm, n | i nauseating, and 
did not try it again. ° 

« Al Ti ri, n e, aS he - WaS h ^^ ] y «> the habit of 
doing, Edgell went with Ned S iva^ to the break- 
down. Arr.v.ng at it, he crept as far forward in the 
c ev.ce as was p„s <ib le and stopped to listen. Imme- 
diately he heard the dull sound of a pick, evidently at 
woric m the entry. The sound seemed to be commu- 
nicated by the wooden rail or run which occupied the 
mi Idle o the entry. « Then,- hesays, "Icommeiic- 
eel pounding upon the run with a "piece of sulphur 
stone or 'nigger-head ' in the hope that I might be 
able to make mysell heard I also hallooed two or 
three times, but was not able to get any reply [ re- 
mained some time, and then went back to .he room 
and said, 'boys, r hear them digging.' They would 
not beheye me. After this I made my risks more fre- 
quently, intending logo down every hour, but 1 sin- 
pose that the intervals were longer than this. Two 



43 



days, I presume, must have elapsed before I was able 
to make them bear me. When this occurred Oat- 
wood was with me. I had called out as usual and 
this time heard an answer. What it was I could not 
understand, but I knew it to be the voice ot a .nan. 1 
said, « Jim, I hear them halloo," he answered, it is 
only your imagination, Bill." Then I waited awhile 
and called again; we both heard the reply tins tune — 
We then went back to the room and told Pearson, but 
could not convince him but that we were mistaken.-- 
in aboul half an h-ur, as we thought, I wenl I back 
again taking Ned Savage with me. 'I his tune [heard 
them at work .plainly, and when leal cd to them some 
one replied 'is that you Bill, lor God's sake 'It « I, 
I said 'who is it that speaks to me V 'You don t know 
me,' the voice replied. I then asked him if al the 
miners had got out alive. He said they had, and en- 
quired if we were all alive ; I replied we were, and 
mentioned the names of those who were with me — 
I enquired for my father, and received for regly that 
he had just gone out with a carload of dirt. He tola 
me to go back and keep out of danger ; that they 
would have us out before long. The next time I went 
down, Gatwood was with me. Before vye left, Pear- 
son told me to ask what day it was, and accordingly 
when I got down I made the enquiry and was told that 
it was Thursday. I supposed from this, that we had 
been in only to' the Thursday following the accident 
making six days, instead of thirteen as I discovered 
after we were rescued. We were all o ♦ 'he same 
opinion and were rather surprised to find that it had 
been even that long. After this our visits were fre- 
quent, but the conversation was very much the same. 
We were at all times, anxious to know what time it 



44 



was, and how they were getting along. We heard 
the last falling in, which occurred abouf seven hours 
before ue were rescued, but as it did not make much 
poise on our end of the entry, we were not alarmed by 
it. After this the diggers did not seem to work with 
the same spirit, until we called to them not to be dis- 
couraged as but little had fallen. We told them we 
could stand it two days longer. Ed gel 1 says, " I then 
commenced digging myself, throwing the 'pieces of 
rock behind me; Gatwood assisted and, I think, we 
advanced in this way about four feet towards on /res- 
cuers. We were told to go back and keep quiet ; we 
did so for awhile. The next time I returned I saw a 
light, and immediately ran back to the boys and told 
them, I wanted them to go back with me; 'for,' said 
I, 'we can get out now.' They did not follow me for 
some minutes. I returned by myself, and in making 
my way towards the light, which 'shone through a cre- 
vice, I placed my hand on George Lyon's "k nee- 
He had crawled through to our side. He threw his 
arms around me and said, '-is that you Bill," I re- 
plied, "it is that ; where's the hole ?" He told me to 
stay where I was, and enquired for the other boys.— 
Having told him where they were, he started back; 
and while he was gone John Alters Jr., from 
Zanesvilie, came through the hole and helped me out. 
Savage soon followed me, then Person ; and Gat- 
wood, who had stopped to take a drink of copperas- 
wa'er, came out last. Philip McLaughlin took off his 
coat and threw it over me. I walked to within twenty 
feet of the mouth of the entry. The others having 
bad clothing thrown over them were wheeled out in 
the cars. We were placed in rocking chairs and car- 
ried to our respective homes. It was a few minutes 



45 

after one o'clock when we were rescued We had 
been entombed in the mountain, fourteen (fays ana 
thirteen hours. When we went in, there was not a 
bud open upon the trees; the morning after we were 

rescued, we looked from our windows and beheld he 
forest clothed in green. We never before knew what 
i beautiful earth it was. 



-4 m o «■ r- 



Note.— ft will, perhaps, be observed that there 
is nothi-K in the foregoing ...native to indicate the 
elS s teehngs and excises of either Pearson 
Edleli, Ga.wood or Savage. Although questioned 
co.rsidera.lv upon th.s, it was a topic ™W°8 
which thev did not seen to be ^» U T"'™»*"2 
upon which I forbore to press then.. I lave g od 
reason to belie;- that, in taeir extremity, they called 
earnestly upon that Heavenly father to whom we 
all turn so r.adi.y when human help fads is. It 
will be eas.ly conceived why they should fee a 
reluctance to have paraded before the world to 
words and emotions of the boors thus spent 1 e 
hand would he a rude one that would tear th- v.U 
away. Let us leave to God and the silence of their 
own' hearts this solemn secret. 



THFC ROLT, OF HONOR. 

The reader who has perused these pages, may 
naturally be expected to feel an i iterest in tlie he- 
rote in *u who rescued the subjects of the foregoing 
narrative. !t is tint common justice that their 
n .. a *s should he pprp tnaied. The courage of a 
forlorn hope, is the result o discipline and ex- 
tiu>men? ; theirs was a ro >l and steady daring, pcr- 
Bisted in for days and under a jeopardy as great as 
stor aing party ever underwent. 

The n uiie which heads the list, deserves to 
Stand there. He is one of the proprietors of the 
mine. He was at all times, equal to every emer- 
gency. Whenever the excavation became particu- 
larly din^erons or when, from any other cause, 
there wis a difficulty in finding hands, he was 
alwi s the first t» throw off his hat and coat and 
d «^h iut.> the mine; and oily threw down his pick 
\Vhen utterly exhausted. His effor s were contin- 
ued in this way until he occame p"ostrated. Duiing 
the f urteen days, he and his partner. Stephen H. 
Guthrie, Ksq., wer • uu iringand almost sleepless. 
Forgetful of their own heavy losses, they evidenced 
to all, an intensi y of interest in the fate of the 
miners, scarcely exceeded by that of their friends 
and relatives. 

Dr. H. Teeter was Superintendent of opera- 
tions, and throughout the whoie affair, acted with 
rare discretion and energy. 



47 



FIRST WORKMEN IN THE 
BANK DIGGERS. 

From Blue Ro :k. 
James Owens Jr , 
Bandy A. Men ear, 
JoJm P. Weaver, 
James Menear, 
Geoige YV. Teeter, 
Thomas Grimsby, 
Josiah T. Peden, 
B. Suverance, 
Jacob Trim per, 
George Lyons, 
Philip MrLaughlin, 
Solomon Dozer Esq., 
George Welsh, 
John Powell, Eaglesport. 

FIRST WHEELERS. 

From Blue Rock. 
John Melvin, 
John Mouts, 
John H. Teeter, 
John Swingle, 
Elijah Bell, 
Chris. Mouts, 
Henry Robinson, 
Jacob Durom, 
Henry Cr ) v, 
James Hamilton, 
William Swingle, 
Thomas Rodgers, 
James Riddile, 
G. W. Simmonds, 



'Joshua Frame, 
William Twyman, 
John Hopper, 
f . Morrison Jr., 

SECOND WORKERS FROM 3 
DAYS AFT E R F A L I OF B A X K. 

From Zanesville. 
William Riley, 
Morgan Bates, 
James Beatty, 
John Reynolds, 
David Munlux, 
Henry Birch, 
William J. Clark, 
Franklin Spinks, 
John Morgan, 
L. Uphold. 
John Alters Jr., 
John All wood, 
Robert Masters, 
L. Sions, 
John Woodruff. 

From Ro>eville. 
William Ed wa rd s, 
George Edwards, 

From McConnelsville. 
Allen Rush, 
James White, 
Laurence Harkins, 
John Rush, 
David Brooks, 
William Rush, 
Weslef Miller, 



48 



David Miller. 

From Sunday Creek. 
Jam : s Longstreih. 

From B ue Rock. 
Rob-rt Coleman, 
J. M. Riley. 
James Hamilton, 
David Welsh, 
Giiorge Uoss, 
J. B. M'Langhlin, 
Edward Mclntire, 
Uriah JMcGee, 
Moses Dozer, 
William Rose, 
N. Prindle, 
Adam Lefler, 
George Lerler, 
Isaac Shetron, 
John Shainer, 
Thomas Harve?. 

Fr »m Taylorsville. 
H. H. Anderson, 
John Stockdale, 
David Rail ley. 

OUT WORKERS — STEADY 



John Bailey, 
Hi run Price, 
Austin Huff, 
Aaron SowJers, 
William Hamilton, 
John Burnell, 

J. D.SIKS, 

P. IF. Sanders, 
Isaac Small wood, 
Jaob Fonts, 
Jeremiah Ross, 
George Trou , 
William Albright, 
0. Ballon, 
Jacob Baughman, 
Henry Be^t, 
Jackson Bean, 
James Bos, 
G. W. Larrison, 
M. Armet, 
A. Morrison Sr., 
Samuel Dozer, 
Jaeob Ballon, 
David Patterson, 

From Taylorsviile 
John Lawson. 



hands. 
From Blue Rock. 
Lest injustice be done to the other sex, it may be 
mentioned that among others whose names have 
not been give::, Mrs. Best and both the Mrs. Men. 
ears, in providing food for from eighty to a hundred 
persons daily, underwent as much severe la^or as 
the most industrious miner on the ground. 



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